I wrote this on the 50th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor about Bro. J.B. Young, from Wimberley. He died on May 21,2011, at the age of 95. He was my Pastor, mentor, friend, fishing buddy, and surrogate father after my fathers death. He flew the first combat mission of World War II on the morning on December 7, 1941, from Hickam Field at Pearl Harbor. He was also “Pastor Emeritus” of First Baptist Wimberley. This video of Bro. Young, at age 94, reciting The Ragged Old Flag, by Johnny Cash, will bless your heart: youtu.be/n9bEM2eJ3wQ This recitation was part of an Independence Day service held on July 4th, 2010, at First Baptist Church, Wimberley, Texas. photo: Bro. Young, 2006, with two of my three sons Aaron and Josh. Pearl Harbor 50 years later:. Wimberley resident recalls ‘Day that will live in infamy’ By Randy Willis Special to the Wimberley View “Tora…Tora…Tora… Japanese Commander Fuchida signaled the code word for success at 7:53 a.m., even before the first bomb fell Dec. 7, 1941, on Pearl Harbor. Next door to Pearl at Hickam Field, young Sgt. J.B. Young was just finishing his shower, getting ready to go eat pancakes and attend Ohua Baptist Church, as he had done every Sunday morning for the past 19 months while stationed at Hickam Field as a soldier in the United States Army Air Corp. (Air Force) At 7:55, Young heard several bombs! “I heard the first bombs drop and thought it was our Navy. However, when the bombs kept hitting the ground, I knew it wasn’t the Navy dropping bombs. I saw the fire station burning and hangers being blown up.” Young tried to wake his roommate, Sgt. Pyrga, but he simply would not believe that the island was under attack by the Japanese. Pyrga snapped at Young: “I’ve heard the Japs were bombing before”. He then went back to sleep. Pyrga was killed a few minutes later when a Japanese bomb ripped through the roof of the barracks. Young ran outside the barracks towards his B-17 bomber. To his right, more than 100 American soldiers were being strafed and killed by Japanese Zeros. “They were trying to shoot the Zeros with Army rifles.” Young emptied his 45-calibre pistol into an approaching low-flying Zero and was grazed across his chest by a bullet (the first two Purple Hearts he was to receive). He continued toward his plane. “I ran over to our B-17 and started the engine: I found 35 bullet holes in it.” After hasty repairs, the bullet-riddled B-17 (nicknamed “Frank Buck” and piloted by Capt. B. Allen) took off from Hickam Field at 10:30 a.m. loaded with bombs in search of the Japanese Fleet. This was the first combat mission flown in World War II by anyone. Seven and one-half hours later, the crew of the “Frank Buck” returned to Hickam. World War II was on and the world would never be the same. After a brief assignment in Maui sandbagging the Navy Air Station for a possible Japanese land invasion, Young was sent back to Hickam to train new air crews from the States and fly submarine patrols. On May 16, 1942, his group was transferred to join the 19th Bomb group in Australia. Side-tracked for six weeks in New Caladonia flying photo missions and submarine patrol, the group sank one submarine and possibly two. Joining the 19th Bomb Squad in August of 1942 in Marceba, Australia, the action quickened again. Rabaul Harbor in New Guinea was the main supply base for the Japanese Navy in the Southwest Pacific. The round trip from their Australian base to Rabaul Harbor was 6 ½ hours. This would allow about 2 hours of fuel to bomb and harass the enemy. The Japanese were masters in the following weather fronts for protection from detection. But one day in 1942, they guessed wrong. A Japanese convoy was spotted in open water under clear skies. Once again the “Frank buck” was sent into action with a support squadron of P-38s. After a 1 hour, 20 minute fight, the “Frank Buck” spotted a 10,000 ton Japanese troop transport loaded with Japanese soldiers. Bombardier Sgt. 1st. Lieutenant James P. String-fellow released one 2,000 pound bomb with precision accuracy, threading the ship’s smoke stack. The Japanese ship sank within 14 minutes: there were no survivors. The crew of the “Frank buck” received its first Silver Star. Suddenly there appeared 14 Japanese Zeros. The “Frank Buck” shot down three of them before their support squadron of P-38s routed the others (Silver Star #2). Early on the morning of Sept. 16, 1942, the b-17 “Frank Buck” was headed home from her Australian base after a successful night rain on Rabaul. Somewhere over the southern New Guinea coastline, trouble developed. Her pilot, Lieutenant R. E. Hosey, spotted a desolate beach below and by a miracle of skill and luck, put her down safely. Then their worries really began. “Over 400 natives came out of the jungle,” Young said. The crew announced to the natives: “We need your help. We are friends.” The chief stepped forward speaking perfect English, having been taught by Australian missionaries. The natives were friendly and helpful during the crew’s 17 day stay on the island. “We were able to radio the 43rd Bomber Group at Port Moresby, the main staging area for the American troops in that part of the Pacific. The navy received our message and sent a boat with adequate supplies and fuel.” The bomber squad that started out with 18 B-17s was down to 5, so the “Frank Buck” was desperately needed. There was only one problem: the beach was much too short for a flying fortress like a B-17 to take off. On Oct. 2, 1942, with the plane repaired and using a makeshift runway, the “Frank Buck” and crew attempted the impossible. So daring was the attempt that Life Magazine covered the story. With only 645 feet of runway and many prayers, the “Frank Buck” lifted off the beach, dipping its right wing into the ocean at the far end. “As far as we know this task has never been repeated,” Young said. With the Frank Buck” back in action, Rabaul Harbor and the Japanese were in for trouble. Overloaded with 23 pound bombs and flares, the “Frank Buck” set out to harass the enemy at Rabaul Harbor. After flying all night at 10,000 feet over the harbor, dropping the small bombs and 1 million candle light flares, the enemy guns literally burned out, then came in a squadron of American-17s with the big bombs. Needless to say, this very dangerous mission for the “Frank Buck” and crew was an over-whelming success. The crew received the Air Medal. When Young was sent home from the was in the Pacific in 1943, he had flown 66 missions, been awarded two Silver Stars, two purple Hearts, two Flying Crosses, and four Air Medals and had received a Presidential Citation. Of all the missions J.B. Young would attempt, none would surpass the one he began in 1940. On May 7th of that year, Young disembarked a converted cattle boat the navy was using to transport troops to Hawaii. He was met by Rev. E.K. Begley, pastor of a little mission church by the name of Ohua Baptist Church. One day while visiting Begley’s home, Young saw a church newspaper from Macedonia, Ark. What caught his eye was a picture in the paper of a good looking Christina girl. Since Begley was from Macedonia, Young asked him: “Do you know this girl?” “Sure” Begley replied. “She is Arline Frank from Madeconia, why don’t you write her?” This began a correspondence by mail that lasted until June 21, 1943; that was the day Young arrived at Macedonia, Ark, to meet Arline face to face for the first time at 10 a.m. The next day at 8 a.m., the two became husband and wife. Forty-eight years, four children and four grandchildren later, the two are still “one” in Wimberley. Brother Young, as he is affectionately known by everyone in Wimberley, was called to preach Jesus in 1947 and was ordained that same year by Rev. Coleman at Floresville Baptist Church in San Antonio. Young was called as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Wimberley on March 10, 1951, while stationed at Randolph Air Field in San Antonio. He remained the church’s pastor (except for a 3-year Air Force assignment in Naples, Italy) until his retirement from First Wimberley in 1981. He retired May 31, 1959, from the Air Force after 22 years and 2 days of service to his country. At age 75 years young, he continues to “supply” for local Baptist churches. I first met Brother Young in 1974. I have never known a finer and more consistent Christian couple that Brother and Mrs. Young. It has been and is a wonderful privilege from God to have been able to call them friends.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 14:49:58 +0000
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